Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), successfully neutralised dozens of ISWAP fighters during a series of failed dawn raids on Saturday.
The coordinated attacks, which targeted military positions in Njimtilo, Baga, Buratai, and Damboa, were described by military officials as a “desperate attempt” by the terrorist group to gain a propaganda foothold. However, superior tactical readiness and a lethal combination of ground and air power left the insurgents in a disorganised retreat.
The fighting began in the early hours of March 16, 2026. At Ajiri Cross, near Njimtilo, Sector 1 troops detected an infiltration attempt before the terrorists could launch their main assault.
“The troops had anticipated the move,” said Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, Media Information Officer for OPHK. “We prepared a deliberate offensive-defensive posture. Through coordinated firepower and tactical manoeuvres designed to disrupt the attackers and cut off their withdrawal routes, the terrorists were routed.”
The resistance was equally fierce in Baga, Buratai, and Damboa. The Nigerian Army Aviation and the Air Component provided critical close air support, delivering precision strikes that shattered the terrorists’ assault formations.
While the intensity of the firefights led to some equipment damage and personnel injuries on the side of the military, the losses suffered by ISWAP were far more severe. During exploitation operations in the Baga and Gidan Kaje general areas, troops discovered the grim aftermath of the battle. Seven corpses were recovered on-site, while evidence suggested the insurgents hastily buried another 20 bodies in shallow graves to hide the extent of their losses.
The recovered arsenal included three PKT machine guns, seven AK-47 rifles, and over 600 rounds of mixed ammunition, including both PKT and anti-aircraft rounds. Additionally, troops seized three RPG bombs, several magazine carriers, and destroyed three motorcycles used by the fleeing fighters.
“A key leader who spearheaded the Buratai assault was among those neutralised,” Lt. Col. Uba confirmed. “These failed attacks demonstrate the growing desperation of terrorist elements under sustained operational pressure.”
Despite the flurry of attacks across multiple fronts, the military has reassured the public that all targeted locations remain firmly under the control of the Nigerian government.
The High Command of Operation HADIN KAI emphasised that troops remain in high spirits, continuing to dominate the logistics corridors used by the insurgents. They urged citizens to remain vigilant and ignore any disinformation or fake reports circulating on social media designed to undermine the counter-terrorism effort. #Securitynewsalert.com
